It’s not about being a perfect example of sustainable living and committing to everything all in one go. There is so much information out there about what we should and shouldn’t be doing, and it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. Hopefully this small selection of challenges, which you can pledge to attempt for just one week, is an alternative to this.
The first step is deciding you want to become more sustainable, and trying one of these challenges might be a way of making that commitment to yourself.
A big part of this challenge is also about sharing your pledge and progress.
Another theme which came up in our discussions was leadership – not from those in positions of power, but rather how individuals continuously exercise a quieter kind of leadership by contributing to positive change.
These pledges are not only about the individual impact you might have by taking one or more of these steps, but the impact of telling others about what you’re doing and why. It would be great to start a conversation around Climate Week through a network of students pledging to take on a challenge and share their experience.
To support you in pledging to these challenges for the duration of Climate Week, we’ve put together a selection of resources for each idea, and we’re running a prize draw if you post on social media about it:
- Pledge by sharing a social media post, telling friends you’ve committed, and encouraging them to do the same.
- Share your experience throughout the week with the hashtag #LUUClimateWeek.
- Get entered into the prize draw by sharing a post which tells friends that you completed the challenge.
We hope you’ll consider taking one of our #LUUClimateWeek pledges and sharing your experience with us and with others.
The Challenges and Resources
1. Try a plant based diet
2. Only buy second hand
- Depop
- Vinted
- Charity shops online
- Message friends if you need something, to see if you could borrow or swap (from a distance!)
3. Switch to a bank or building society that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels
4. Walk or cycle if you need to travel
5. Learn more about climate change
- University climate change and sustainability resources
- MockCOP – the online mock climate change conference
- Get involved with the events taking place from 22nd March
- Take a look at the Connecting Voices for Climate Action events happening in April.